The loss of a cat is heartbreaking for any guardian, but many are blindsided by the depth and intensity of grief they feel. You’re grieving not only a being, but also a relationship that was unique to you. In addition, cats often with people through entire chapters of their lives. The cat’s death marks the end of an era in the human’s life.

No two people grieve alike, because no two people are alike. In addition, each person’s relationship with each cat is different. So when it comes to grief, there is no such thing as “normal.” With that very large caveat, this post is about what many bereaved cat guardians experience.

Grief is a full-body experience. Even if you think you’re prepared, you may experience brain fog for a while and have trouble thinking or focusing. Some people want to sleep all the time; others have insomnia. You may feel anger, sadness, guilt, or numb.

Adjusting to a New Routine

When a cat dies, especially one that has been sick for a long time, it takes time to adjust to a routine without meds or sub-qs or trips to the vet. Even with cats who passed suddenly, you may find yourself waking up at 6am (or 3am). When there’s no cat, or one less cat, to feed, it can bring up waves of grief.

One of the most surprising grief triggers is the silence, especially if your household only had one or two cats. It’s a cliché, but the silence can truly be deafening; it can be hard to hear anything other than the absence of paws or nails on the floor.

In a multi-cat household, other cats may become needy or withdrawn—or they may show no signs of noticing the other cat’s absence. They may stop eating, gobble up all the food, or continue as though nothing has changed.

Visitations

This can be the most comforting or the most disconcerting aspect of grieving a cat. You may hear your cat’s paws on the floor, or swear that you’d caught a glimpse out of the corner of your eye. You might feel them jump onto the bed, or even feel their paw on your arm or back. Many, many people who have lost a cat report these experiences. It’s up to each of us to interpret what they mean. Some people find comfort in these “visits,” while others find them disturbing and a grief trigger.

At night, you may dream about your cat. Some people have reported nightmares in the first few months, especially after a cat has died a traumatic death. Many report neutral or happier dreams, in which their cat is healthy again. These can be gifts, yet they can also be bittersweet upon awakening.

Picking Up the Ashes

Picking up a cat’s ashes can be a major grief trigger, especially for those who weren’t present for the cremation. It means that the cat’s body is physically gone and will never return in that particular form—and holding the evidence in your hands can be extremely painful. Pet loss counselors (and compassionate veterinarians) suggest that guardians not pick up their cat’s ashes alone. Bring someone with you for support. On the flip side, many people also report feeling a sense of comfort once their cat is “home” again.

Feelings of Guilt

Feeling guilt is a nearly universal aspect of grieving a cat, in a way that it usually isn’t when we’re grieving a human. That’s because we are often the ones who choose when a cat dies—and if we’re not, we wonder if there’s something we could have done differently (and some of us experience guilt over both these things at once). These feelings are extremely painful and can multiply grief exponentially. Holding onto guilt can be extremely detrimental to emotional health and moving through grief.

Grief is not about “getting over” a loss; it’s about accepting that the loss happened and being able to move forward in our own lives.

Grief Comes in Waves

Grief is nonlinear. For most people, it comes in waves. At first, it may feel like you’re in the middle of a storm, and the waves are almost constant, with few respites. Over time, most people find that they are able to continue with daily tasks as they integrate their loss into their ongoing lives. The waves still come, but—with occasional exceptions, like anniversaries—they are often less frequent and less intense. Memories begin to bring smiles more often than tears. The time frame for this varies for each person.

When to Seek Help

Even if you’re experiencing “typical grief,” it is always okay to seek professional help. However, there are two circumstances in which professional help is essential.

Coping with Bereavement Overload

All of the above is written for those grieving the loss of one cat. However, some people experience two or more losses at the same time, or in a short time period. Multiple simultaneous or sequential losses can lead to “bereavement overload,” a state in which a person is still processing one loss when the next one hits. This can make it exponentially more difficult to process any of the losses. If you’re experiencing bereavement overload, it’s a good idea to reach out for professional support.

When Grief Doesn’t Get Better

For most people, grief becomes less intense over time, and they are able to function day to day. They will still have waves of sadness, but over time, the good days outnumber the bad.

For a few unlucky souls, though, the intensity of the initial grief remains for months, or even years. The respite between the waves never comes, and they can’t stop thinking about their cat, or what might have been. This is called “complicated grief,” and it’s a serious psychological issue. People experiencing complicated grief have trouble completing daily tasks like showering or going to work. Risk factors for complicated grief include childhood trauma, a history of severe depression and/or anxiety, and a lack of social support, among other factors. Unlike “typical grief,” complicated grief is a serious issue that requires professional help.

Be gentle with yourself.

Grief is not about “getting over” a loss; it’s about accepting that the loss happened and being able to move forward in our own lives. Any loss will always be part of your life experience, just as the animal (or person, for that matter) will always have been significant to you.

This is why, if at all possible, it helps to take time to let your emotions catch up before a cat’s death, and why end-of-life rituals are helpful. However, those are not always possible—sudden or unexpected loss makes grieving a cat so much harder. Be gentle with yourself.

What do you wish you had known about grieving the loss of a cat? Share it in a comment.

Sarah Chauncey is the author of P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna, an upcoming gift book for adults grieving their cat. She runs @morethantuna on Instagram and Facebook, “a celebration of nine lives,” and she started #tunatributes, a support community for people grieving their cat. She lives on Vancouver Island.

138 Comments on What to Expect When You’re Grieving the Loss of a Cat

Helen

April 16, 2020 at 3:55 pm (2 months ago)

I just said goodbye to my hairless cat on Monday afternoon this week. It’s still pretty fresh, and I can’t stop crying. I feel like I’m going crazy because I miss him so much. He was sick and I knew it was going to happen, I just didn’t expect it so soon. My routine has changed so much, and I just really miss having him around. I have two other cats, but one is my mom’s and the other is my sister’s. It hurts not having my cat when they have them. This article really helped normalize grieving for an animal, so thank you.

Tamlyn

April 23, 2020 at 6:06 am (1 month ago)

Hi Helen, I’m so sorry for your loss. I made the decision yesterday to put my Sphynx cat down as he was in congestive heart failure and didn’t seem to respond well to the medication. I am heartbroken, and keep torturing myself as to whether or not I did the right thing. He was my special child, we had such a bond. My other baby is so very sad today as they were very close too! I hope you feel better soon, sending love x

Wendy

May 13, 2020 at 12:42 pm (4 weeks ago)

I just lost by beloved kitty Daisy on 5-4-2020. I had her for 12 years. She would have been 17 in July. She was diabetic and I gave her insulin twice a day. She was the sweetest most adorable cat I’ve ever had. She never complained about me giving her injections or checking her blood glucose. She would come to me like she knew I was trying to help her. We had this amazing bond that I can’t describe. She was my shadow and only had eyes for me. She was sweet to everyone but she was always by me and missing me when I wasn’t home. She was my companion and comfort through my moms death and other traumatic things I went through. She was my constant unconditionally loving companion. She got cancer and we had to put her to sleep last week. She was suffering, not eating well at all and seemed like she was in pain. I kept trying to save her or give her more time but she was just deteriorating so bad. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and I ran out of the vet in tears and I’ve been bursting into tears ever since. I picture her in all her spots and jumping in the chair with me or the bed, following me around all over. Sitting by me while I work. I imagine hearing her. I miss her so bad I can’t even explain the heartbreak. She was truly my best friend. She was my shadow and I don’t know how to deal with the heartbreak and missing her so terribly. I also am traumatized by putting her to sleep. Even though she was so skinny and looked so sad and in pain I keep second guessing myself wondering if I could have done more. Like should I have let them do surgery on her stomach? I said no because she was severely diabetic and was elderly. I didn’t want to put her through that. Should I have tried chemo? I couldn’t afford thousands of dollars that may not even work or if so may only give her a little more time. They said steroids would make her blood sugar go crazy and she had already been hospitalized with DKA due to her diabetes a year and a half before and almost died then. Out of desperation I did try steroids at the end and it did make her blood sugar crazy. She was going up to 500 or 600 and then could drop to 50 because she was eating well. She had also gotten severely anemic most likely from the cancer. I just knew I couldn’t put her through anymore but I couldn’t handle letting her suffer and waste away at home in pain and I couldn’t handle having my best friend put to sleep either.

Tamlyn

May 13, 2020 at 3:55 pm (4 weeks ago)

Oh Wendy, I’m so so sorry for your loss of Daisy. It’s totally understandable that you still get upset, my baby has been gone 3 weeks today and I still burst into tears at random times of the day! You really did everything you could, and as much as we always think there may have been more we could have done, we know deep down we did the best thing to keep them from suffering. It’s so heart breaking, no words will ever make it ok, we just need time and to remember our beautiful 4 legged children in our memories! Sending you huge hugs and love! I know I could do with huge hugs at this time being isolated alone, it has made things so much worse. X x x

Greg West

May 3, 2020 at 11:27 am (1 month ago)

To all the beautiful cat lovers in the world who have lost their precious babies recently, I’m so so very sorry. I know how devastating this is. I still grieve for my angel who passed in my arms 10 month ago. Is something wrong with me? I’m a grown man, with tremendous responsibilities, yet find myself several times a month just bawling at her loss. There isn’t a day I don’t think of her. She was truly a cat dog , and we shared so many adventures, crazy play times, and she loved to hike with me. Our bond was epic, and there will never be another like her. Thank you my little angel for bringing me so much joy and love. I will never forget you!

Gail

May 8, 2020 at 4:42 am (1 month ago)

I just lost my granddaughter earlier, she’s only a month old. She got stomped by my dad accidentally, I don’t know how I could move on. Her momma looks for her, maybe she thinks that my granddaughter is just sleeping somewhere. I feel guilty because I wasn’t able to get her on a safe place where no one can hurt her.

Amanda

May 6, 2020 at 9:20 am (1 month ago)

For us it was Sunday, she passed at home, 2 days before her 11th birthday. I feel like I could of done more. What was supposed to be a urinary tract infection ended up as something more suspicious. she declined really quickly and I am not sure if I did the right thing to keep her at home. She was a chunky blue who had lost so much weight. Vet said her illness wasn’t life threatening. The pain is immense and I am constantly in tears. Just wish she was here….

Greg West

May 6, 2020 at 4:10 pm (1 month ago)

Dear Amanda,

I’m so very sorry for your loss. I know how terribly devastating this is for you. I as well had feelings of guilt when my kitty Julee passed. That perhaps I had contributed to her death through my care, which shortened her life. I think this is a natural human reaction. Did I take her to the vet enough? Could I have paid better attention to her moods, or given her a better diet and so on. Please don’t beat yourself up too much, as I’m sure you were a great cat mom. Just know this will hurt for a while because it’s so raw. You will have good and bad days. Just know with some time you will begin to make peace with her passing, and remember her with a smile on your face for all the love and joy you two shared. Take care Amanda

Tina

Nilo

May 26, 2020 at 11:29 am (2 weeks ago)

Hello Greg, I just stumbled upon your message and I can very much relate to this. I just lost my cat two days ago in an terrible accident. He was in fact my first cat. I was never a cat person and never knew what a bond between human and cat meant. I always had dogs and thought a cat is not for me until this little guy came into my life. He found us, he just showed up at our house two years ago and made himself a home, even though we have two big pitbulls who never hung out with cats before. My little Mankittie didn’t care he became the man of the house in no time and he actually became best friends with my dogs to the point where he thought he is a dog himself. He followed us everywhere. So we started taking him on walks with the dogs, or better say he started walking with us, no matter where we go. Not much later we took him hiking in the woods and than camping. he was the most adventurous cat I could have imagined. We were just about to set up camp for this memorial weekend and my cat got trapped in a hunting trap and died in my husband arm. We were within and had to watch him die and were helpless… his death was quick and he didn’t seem to suffer but he had such a short time in this life and he had so much more to give and teach me. We took him home and barried him in the back yard. I hope he was just a Traveller who had many more stops to make and bring much more joy to other people’s life.
We had our cat for almost two years now, but the bond I built in the short time I had him was incredible. My life was truly filled with so much love and I don’t think I could have been any happier… in top of that the quarantine brought me even closer to all my animals because I got to hang out with them every single day all day long… I just wanna understand why it had to be so early, you had so much love and joy to give… but maybe it was to much for us alone…. I love you my little Mankittie and my heart will always hold your memories….

Jeff

May 10, 2020 at 4:38 pm (4 weeks ago)

I lost my 15yr old Momma cat Friday morning. She had IBD, then about 2 weeks ago, went downhill. I took her in this last week for tests, and 2 days later, came back as lymphoma. She had completely stop eating and had lost a great deal of weight. She was so sick. It happened so fast. I am devastated. Putting her to sleep was beyond pain. As I write this, I don’t know where to go with the pain. My 4 other kitties are helping me, and one is her daughter. I’m not sure what these words are doing at the moment. I just know I have the guilt of not being able to do more, that there was something I missed. My heart is torn and aches. She was so loving and kind and precious. She was a daddy’s girl, and I’ her daddy. I just keep feeling this is not happening.

Tina

May 12, 2020 at 4:45 pm (4 weeks ago)

My thoughts and prayers are with. I had recently put my almost 1yr old to sleep and the devastation is more than I could bare. You did everything you could, the grief is causing you doubt and a range of emotions and that’s normal. Please comfort that the days will ease up and you’ll be able to focus on cherishing all the wonderful memories.

I’ve lost my beautiful Persian cat over ten years ago, and it still hurts to think about it. I’m glad I didn’t take pictures or videos of her because I didn’t have a cellular phone back then. I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from seeing videos obsessively, and it would be extremely painful.

I had felt guilt that I couldn’t have stopped her from dying and had researched the net constantly for cats with enlarged heart and pkd. Finally, I realized I’ve done anything humanely possible to save her.

Don’t buy cats or dogs from stores! They may suffer from genetic diseases due to inbreeding and die early. But I didn’t know it at the time.

I’d walk down the streets feeling perfectly all right, and then suddenly it would hit me like a tsunami, that feeling that you’re being torn to pieces. It’s kind of difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t gone through it.

Once, I was walking down the street and forgot where I was and where I was going. I turned numb for a few minutes and couldn’t move or think clearly.

But it does get better with time, and I have four feral cats adopted off the streets living in my house right now.

Maria

February 25, 2020 at 3:57 pm (3 months ago)

Hi there, thanks for your thoughts. It’s been a year since my kitty passed and not a day has gone by without thinking of her. I wish I met ‘I love you more than tuna’ before, I feel it is a good place to find healing words and real sharing. Grateful for it.

David

December 24, 2019 at 12:20 pm (6 months ago)

Hi Claire,

I’m so sorry about Scampi. It sounds like you two were lucky to find each other. It seems like you did everything you could. 17 years is a long time. You should be proud of yourself on how much you took care of and cared for Scampi. It sounds like Scampi made that natural for you. I lost my Ginger now a little over a month ago. He was over 16. I know what you mean about the home not feeling the same. I will say I do feel better now than I did during the first week after Ginger was gone. I’m not ready to do it now, but I think someday I will care for another cat. I admire the love you had and still have for Scampi. I’m so sorry for your loss.

Claire

December 24, 2019 at 12:58 pm (6 months ago)

Hello David

Thank you for the message. Sorry to hear about Ginger too.
I’m lucky to have Tinker who is 7, but his not a lap cat which is what I miss the most and the constant talking from Scampi is hard not to hear. Plus Scampi used to follow me around like a dog and tinker doesn’t. Hoping tinker comes braver now and hopefully one day he will sit with me. Wish you a merry Xmas

Michelle

February 13, 2020 at 3:44 am (4 months ago)

So nice to find a community of people who understand. I had to euthanise my 17.5 year old boy ‘Yowie’ on Monday and I cant stop crying. I see ghosts of him everywhere. I miss the tinkle of his bell and the tick tick of his claws on the floorboards. Yowie had a trauma back in September ( I was carrying him and went to walk thru a door and so did my rather large and boisterous FIL and poor old Yowie hit the door jam and squealed. A couple of weeks later his belly started to get bigger. I took him to the vet and they had a feel and then decided he most likely had a tumour on the kidney and suggested I take him home and keep him as comfortable as possible until the time came to say goodbye. He was still going strong at Xmas time and after xmas the belly seemed to start growing again. I took him back to the vet wanting to be sure that it was a tumour and not fluid as i had been researching possible causes. The vet took an X-ray and could not see anything but fluid. She explained that he most likely had FIP and after I told her of the trauma advised that it was unlikely to be the cause as she could see know blood in the small amount of fluid the had withdrawn. Again I was told to take him home until it was time…and that the time would be soon. I took him back 2 days later to have the fluid drained 1ltr and asked her to give him an antibiotic in the hope of giving him a chance. Needless to say the vet was not very empathetic nor was she interested in explaining why this may not be a good idea. Yowie had about 2 days where he looked much more comfortable and was climbing up on things again and joining in much more. Sadly that fluid built up to the same level if not more in 5 days time and my boy looked very uncomfortable. I had to make the decision and it was quite traumatic. The vet gave him a dose of ketamine first and when the needle when in he swung around and bit her…quite viciously 🙁 Then once the ketamine started to kick in he threw up several times. I felt so awful and still do really, even tho i know all that I do …arghhh it just hurts so much <3 Thanks so much for giving me a safe place to share this horrible event with people who really do get it.

David Berlin

December 11, 2019 at 2:46 pm (6 months ago)

Hi Kay,

I bet you were a great guardian to you cat. You should be proud of yourself and your cat that he bring out that kind of love and caring in you. I lost my cat 3 weeks ago too. I am doing much better than the first 3 days. I was surprised by how much grief I had. I am doing better now, but still can’t bring myself to look at any pictures yet.

Kay

Samantha Leigh

December 18, 2019 at 3:48 am (6 months ago)

I lost my cat yesterday and the grief is overwhelming. I have never felt such sadness. I haven’t been able to stop crying since the moment I got the knock on the door. Work have been very good and allowed me compassionate leave, but I just don’t see how this gets easier. We are taking his body today to be cremated. We think he may have been run over. I woke up at 2am and sobbed, again at 7am and decided to just get up. It was comforting to find this page as some may say a cat is just a cat, but mine helped me when I was at my lowest. My partner is also distraught, it’s really horrible losing a beloved companion. Any help or advice would be great. I need to go back to work tomorrow and I don’t know how I am going to cope. It’s also our works Christmas event Friday which I’m already dreading. It’s like every emotion I’ve ever had have come to the surface and it won’t stop

Kay

December 18, 2019 at 7:44 am (6 months ago)

Dear Samantha, very sorry for your loss. It is very hard to lose your beloved pet in any situation, but the loss when it’s sudden and you haven’t had a chance to say goodbye can be even more devastating. I say this from experience – my cat that I spoke about earlier in this thread was old and I could see him slowly deteriorating whereas his sister was unfortunately run over when she was young. I totally understand how you feel, the unexpectedness of it all on top of the loss. I would recommend keeping away from people who say ‘it was just a cat’ for now and only speak to understanding friends and family. Allow yourself time to grieve, your cat was a part of your family. Unfortunately, only time will help and knowing that your cat was loved. I still think of my Fee, even though it was many years ago. But over time the pain lessened and I could think of her with a smile and I know, like your cat that she (and her brother who we recently lost) were very loved. All the best, although it’s hard to see your partner also devastated, it’s also good that your partner is sympathetic in your grief.

Caroline

February 15, 2020 at 10:31 pm (4 months ago)

Hope you are better now… I wen’t through a similar situation over a month ago and its still hard for me to go to work and just have a normal life, it hurts so much… I hope this feeling goes away anytime soon, I miss her so so much

Michell3

Big hugs to you <3 am feeling a little better, thanks, but it's almost like my brain tries not to go there because it hurts too much. Life without Yowie will never be the same 🙁

Alex

December 18, 2019 at 6:45 am (6 months ago)

Hi Samantha,
I’m really sorry that you have to go through this pain. In 3 days It will be 5 months that I have lost my cat, my life and the best companion I have ever had. Nothing can replace him, I still think about him everyday, I had to take two days off from work. I can tell you it won’t get easier but you will get stronger everyday and just think about all the great time you had together, all the best memories.
My girlfriend and I were devastated, it was for sure the saddest day of our life. I found crying to be very helpful, I couldn’t stop crying for two days, never cried that much in my entire life. But just be patient and I will promise you get stronger each day and you will feel better. The toughest time for me was the 1 month. I will never forget my cat, Tigger, he was smartest, kindest, full of joy and I consider myself to lucky that he was part of my life for 8 years and 2 months.
I hope you find this post helpful like me and please share your feelings if you find it helpful.

Samantha Leigh

December 18, 2019 at 7:09 am (6 months ago)

Hi Alex, thank you for responding. It’s comforting to know it’s not just me. The pain is awful, I can’t ever imagine what it would be like to lose a person, this is bad enough. I haven’t been able to stop crying. I’ve just washed out his bowls and put his stuff away, that was heartbreaking. I will keep them for now, they bring me comfort that he was here. My partner is also distraught, it’s really heartbreaking. Who knew you could love a little fur ball this much and how much of an impact they have on your life. I hope all of our little kitties are having a little party somewhere and running free with no worries anymore. They will stay forever in our hearts

Carlos Guerra

December 26, 2019 at 9:08 pm (5 months ago)

Our Cat KITTY passed away on 12/20/2019. She was a indoor cat, we also another cat Named Norman. They were real close, playing around. We will miss her everyday, sleeping on our bed . We have had KITTY for 5 Years. It’s very hard , I would feed her before I left to work, Then feed her in the afternoon. She was a very Loving cat.
From our Hearts , We Love KITTY!
Carlos, Berta & Bianca Guerra

claire

December 23, 2019 at 9:52 pm (6 months ago)

My beautiful soul mate and shadow Scampi passed away in my arms 2 weeks ago today.He was 17 years old and had always been in great health, but then he suddenly struggled to eat which vet agreed it was due to tooth cavity. Pre operation blood test found kidney disease which came as a blow, two days later he lost the ability to use his hind legs and this was diagnosed as a blood clot.All of this happened in 4 days so the shock was overwhelming. My biggest nightmare came true losing him, I miss him more than anything and I feel so low. I now have his ashes but can’t comprehend that they are his body. I have been through so much with him and miss him dearly.Home is not home without him. I try and remember good times but they too make me cry. sleeping is an issue.
Totally understand everyone pain and wish I could just have my baby back for one last cuddle.

kay

December 11, 2019 at 11:55 am (6 months ago)

Dear Cat lovers, It’s been a little over 3 weeks ago since I lost my beautiful cat which I mentioned on this thread. I just wanted to share a small piece of advice, if it helps anyone. Before going to the vet for the inevitable, I put all his bowls and paraphernalia in a bag, as I could not bear the idea of seeing them when I got back (this included bowls etc as he’d stopped eating 2 days previously). On the following Monday they were taken away with the bins…this included a beautiful wooden carved cat that held a metal bowl for his dry food. I’d bought it especially for him when we were in the process of buying our new house years ago. Anyway, my point is – after a week or so I suddenly thought about that wooden carved cat and bowl and how it was special for him..and I realized I’d thrown it out in grief. My advice, put your things away that remind you of them if you need to, but maybe keep them hidden in a bag for a while. You might like me, wish, weeks on you had that special bowl, collar, toy whatever to look at. Thinking of you all.

Amber

December 22, 2019 at 4:09 am (6 months ago)

On November 28 my 13 year old Tiggy passed from pneumonia. She was our baby because we have been unable to have children. It took me several days to clean up her dishes and litterbox – crying the entire time. It took a week for me to box up her blankets and toys. I’ve kept everything. Her most special toys, brushes, blanket, leftover treats and a whisker I found when I was cleaning up are in a special box and still on a shelf in our living room. I’m a sentimental person, so Tiggy’s “stuff” will always be cherished.

As the holiday season is upon us, I am finding it really hard to be without her. I am still waiting for her ashes to come back to be put in the special picture frame urn my dad made for her. I wanted to have her back for Christmas, but the part that made her special – her beautiful loving spirit – has never actually left. I see glimpses of her, random things get knocked over but not broken (when no one is even nearby), and I even sometimes hear her voice.

About going back to work (Samantha said she was dreading this earlier in the thread): it may be slightly unhealthy, but I find it easier to be at work, where I don’t expect to see Tiggy. I can almost imagine her waiting for me at home. My coworkers have been great, they all have kitties too and don’t mind when I reminisce.

Marika

November 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm (7 months ago)

I had to put down my sweet cat Frank on Tuesday. He was 16, and I’d had him since he was 5 weeks old. He was very loving and loyal and just wonderful. He was there for me at the lowest point of my life. I already suffer from depression, and was in the process of applying for a partial sick leave from work due to depression. I am overwhelmed by how hard I am grieving. I expected to be very sad, but not like this. I am having trouble taking care of my child, bathing, working, doing basically anything but crying and looking at pictures of Frank.I miss him so much. I don’t know how I am ever going to be ok again. My son and husband seem pretty much ok, but I am not. I feel so alone in my sadness.

Lauren

November 11, 2019 at 2:49 pm (7 months ago)

I am so sorry for your loss. I had to put my 16 year old Yoshimi to sleep on Saturday. I don’t think there is a word to describe how devastated I am. I can’t eat, shower, or get out of bed. I also suffer from depression and she was my only source of happiness. Not only was she my baby, but she was also my best friend. I wanted to say that reading your post gave me some comfort knowing someone else out there is grieving just as hard for their baby cat.

Amanda

November 12, 2019 at 5:49 pm (7 months ago)

I’m so sorry for your loss of your beloved cat.
I had to put my beautiful girl down this last Sunday Nov 9th 2019.
My heart is shattered. The events of putting her down are replaying over and over again in my head. So many tears everyday. Looking at her pictures. The feeling guilt is completely overwhelming. Making the decision to ends your cats life is the hardest thing I have ever done. Did I do it too early??
Was she ready to go? I loved her so much. She loved me. I’m broken.
I understand your pain. I don’t know how to get through this…. I’m just doing my best day by day.
Much love to you

Julie

November 13, 2019 at 10:51 pm (7 months ago)

I brought you home for a friend to save your life. I wasn’t ready for another cat, as I had lost my 22 year old P. P. Kitty on 3/19/2019. But you were a 3 month old kitten I named TIDDER. I fell in love with you within days. Head over heels in love. You were so perfect. My pretty little faced, big pawed, fluffy long-tailed girl. Your personality was awesome, you and I hung out together. You purred as loudly as a tiger. You put your paws on my chest as you “kissed” me. You’d run up my legs and jump off so fast I wouldn’t know what happened! You left me on a full moon, Oct 13th, I found you dead. And I can’t seem to stop crying, I miss you Tidder. How dare God allow this to happen! My only Ray of sunlight each day ripped away from me. I don’t know what to do. I son, I am so angry, sad, feel guilty every day since oct13. I need help.

Kayvdz

November 16, 2019 at 5:44 pm (7 months ago)

I’m sorry for your loss and feel your pain. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to my beloved almost 17 year old Chartreux baby (I mention his breed as I’ve heard many times he had great innings given the average lifespan of the breed, but it doesn’t help). I’m a mum of 3 kids and they all seem to be coping well but I on the other hand am seriously struggling with his loss. I was awake at 3am looking at photos of him on my phone. I just wanted to say I’m thinking of you and hope we all find a way of coming to terms and celebrating our time with them.

David

November 21, 2019 at 9:13 pm (7 months ago)

I’m so sorry for the loss of your cat. If you loved yours, like I loved mine, I bet you gave him a real good life, and he was lucky to have you as a guardian. I had my Ginger till he was 16. He had respiratory issues the last 3 years, and 2 vet visits at different times gave him new life. I am so grateful that I got to enjoy him for another 3 years. He died yesterday in peace with the help of a kind Doctor. I am overwhelmed by sadness about it, and it’s good to know I’m not alone in having overwhelming sadness about it. I thank all of you for posting. I think it takes compassion and courage! I’m so sorry for your loss, and I thank you for sharing.

Ellen

October 25, 2019 at 7:52 pm (8 months ago)

I have been going through a roller coaster of emotions over the last week.
I lost my darling Milly yesterday, after putting her to sleep. She suddenly became ill after suffering from congestive heart failure silently. I had known about a heart murmur she had, but the vet didn’t seem to think it was urgent. I always knew this was a possibility for her, but was nonetheless not prepared. She stopped eating, stopped moving, and lost her vibrancy over the course of a week. She had been in the vet over two days where initially they thought it was a mild case of HCM and then they determined she was in the end stages of heart failure after she didn’t respond to medication. I brought her home for her final few days, hoping she would improve, but knowing what was going to happen, so I spent the week grieving the inevitable before I made the heartbreaking decision to give her one final act of love and kindness and put her peacefully to sleep while cradling her and telling her how much I loved her. It’s been a huge shock though, and I have spent the large part of the last week in tears, when with her, and now without her.

I think the hardest part for me is just knowing she won’t be there to greet me, and I won’t ever get to experience her wonderful little personality quirks again. Her little paw rubbing her cheek when she rolled around on the floor, her chirps and chattering at both me and bugs she would find, her trotting over to say hello, and lifting her head for head scratches, rolling around in the sun to get the warmth on her belly, or her being my little spoon when snuggling, feeling her weight on my body as she perched on me whilst I was asleep, or the softness and warmth of her fur.

It’s very hard. I’m very sad.

I wish I could change how things were, and wish I could have stopped her from getting as sick as she was. I’m trying not to blame myself, because a lot of it was out of my control, but there’s still the ‘what if’ questions that come with something like this. In hindsight the signs may have been there, but she hid them well. She just wanted to enjoy life up until the last moment, and she did.

My other cats are also missing her as well. That’s perpetuating the grief, knowing they don’t know where their buddy, and sister is.

Milly, wherever you are, you were loved, and you gave love. You will forever be in my heart. I’ll miss you babygirl.

Mary

Tina

April 26, 2020 at 12:07 am (1 month ago)

My sweet Beefyboy stopped urinating two weeks ago today and was struggling trying. We took him to our vet on Monday morning. They operated and removed bladder stones. He was too swollen to catheterize. They extracted the urine the next day and we’re able to get a catheter in.
Two days later they suggested we take him to a specialty hospital.
He had red blood cell issues and a transfusion was discussed.
Suddenly a male vet said that we could come get him. We did, on Tuesday of this week. He hid, ate very little and I assumed that he was healing. Thursday he ate, and hung out for a while.
About 8:00 pm we heard a horrible howl. I brought him in to give his pain med. I laid him down and his tongue was out and he was breathing strange. I called the specialty hospital and they said to bring him in.
Halfway there he was combative and crying. I was trying to sooth him, I had him wrapped in a blanket. As we pulled in, he was extremely agitated and suddenly became still. I thought that he had passed but then he moved. The tech came out to get him. The vet called right away and said, he’s trying to die. I will never be able to get those words out of my head.
They asked if we wanted them to help him. We said yes. They apologized and told us to drive safely.
That was it, my baby boy was gone.
Due to Covid we weren’t allowed inside.
I’m devastated. I’m inconsolable. I haven’t spoken to anyone for two days other than my husband. He loved him too, but my grief is obviously bothering him.
I rescued him in March 2006, he was 1 1/2 then, so almost 16.
Three weeks ago he was my silly, awesome guy and now he’s gone.
He was one of the sweetest, laid back cats. Even cat haters loved him.
I’m not sure how to deal with my grief without feeling like others may think that I am being dramatic.
Thanks for listening.
Tina

I’m so sorry, Tina. Losing a cat is always devastating, and losing him under these awful circumstances and not being able to be with him only complicates your grief. You’re not being dramatic – you’re dealing with a terrible loss. My heart goes out to you.

Tina

April 26, 2020 at 12:23 pm (1 month ago)

Thank you.

Cinidy

November 5, 2019 at 9:12 am (7 months ago)

I am so very sorry for your loss. I am having the same feelings of sadness, grief and guilt too, as our 16 year old calico (Abby) has been ill over the past few months. Blood tests revealed hyperthyroidism and signs of other maladies (renal, etc.). I made the decision this past Friday, November 1. My heart is breaking in this quiet house . . . I miss the thud of her paws on the floor as she jumps down off a chair, her chatter and purring, even scratching in the litter box, betting for a treat. I hope that someday in the future I will be ready and able to take in another little soul or two. Blessings to all.

Ellen

November 6, 2019 at 10:44 am (7 months ago)

Oh dear, I’m so sorry. It really is hard knowing you won’t get to experience all those things again, but it does get easier by the day. The sadness and longing will always be there, but coping starts to set in.

I miss my tortie girl the most at night – that’s when she would curl up in my arms in a beautiful purring ball. It’s when the sadness really hits me still.

I’m sure you will find a little friend again in future – they never fill the gap, but they do create a new nook in your heart xx

Carla B

November 5, 2019 at 6:32 pm (7 months ago)

I’m so sorry about your little kitty. We found out my little cat has lung cancer today. The whole family are heartbroken. She had 300ml of fluid drained from her lung today and is spending the night with us. It’s very likely we will need to put her to sleep tomorrow. I can’t imagine my life without her – she’s 13 and my best friend xxx

Ellen

November 6, 2019 at 10:39 am (7 months ago)

I’m so sorry, Carla. I’m sure she knows how much she is loved.

It’s a hard decision to make, because your heart doesn’t want to say goodbye, but you know that keeping them around would only make them feel miserable and it’s the last great act of love you can give them.

Each day does get better. Funnily when I got her ashes back, it was a turning point. I had one last big cry, and now I only feel pangs of sadness. I’m fortunate in that I have two other cats, one being her sister – the sister has actually stepped up and gone from being a relatively meek and distant cat to being affectionate, talkative and sweet. It’s nice. They know, I’m sure, and it’s her way of looking after me.

It’s such a short life they live with us. We always know they won’t be around forever, but saying goodbye is never easy.

Emily

November 9, 2019 at 3:22 pm (7 months ago)

Ellen My Millie was hit by a car yesterday while I was at work and I am absolutely beside myself. It doesn’t feel real, I’m so heartbroken I can’t imagine ever getting over it. I loved her like a child, she was such loving curious little munchkin and the house is horrible without her. I’m constantly crying, we had her cremated today and pick up her ashes on Tuesday, your post is the first thing I’ve read that has helped me look forward I can only hope I experience similar relief when she’s home x

Elaine Harrington

October 22, 2019 at 8:15 am (8 months ago)

Painful euthanasia I found out the pain of putting a cat down is terrible. To hear the screaming and know they are suffering when you are trying to stop the suffering is something i deal with every day since last August. I brought my Blue to the Humane Society and they were anything but. It my last memory. I’m so sorry that happened to you.

JN

October 21, 2019 at 10:37 pm (8 months ago)

Our cat of almost 15 years passed 3 days ago. She had a good life, but was very sick in the end and was unable to move much on her own. She also had hyperthyroidism and had an allergic reaction to the medication. We finally decided it was time to let her go, to let her have peace. Now, I wish I had known all the right questions to ask the Vet about euthanasia. It did not go as peaceful as we had expected. On our end, we had planned it all out carefully, with quiet music, which she loved and everyone around her that she loved. The vet had prepared me that our cat would feel a small “prick” as she would give her sedation. That ended up being a horrible painful event where my cat was screaming and hissing – while she was injecting the sedation – it took about 30 seconds of the cat crying. It was so traumatic for all of us – especially my cat. I did not know this was a painful event, and that my cat would have her last few minutes experiencing only pain and being scared. It was so horrible. When she finally calmed down, the vet went on to the final procedure. I’m living with horrible guilt. For 15 years we took so good care of her (a stray), and when she got sick and couldn’t handle anymore, we wanted to give her a peaceful exit. Unfortunately, I feel we failed her. I wonder if this happens often, as I didn’t read about anyone else having this experience. I googled about this afterward and learned that some vets are using sedation that apparently has this effect. We should always ask which sedation they use, and ensure they give the right amount. And if possible, give the pets some relaxing medication even before the vet arrives. Lessons learned, but too late. I hope others will read this and do their due diligence beforehand.

I’m so sorry you had such a traumatic experience. Unfortunately, there are still some vets who do not use euthanasia protocols that avoid this situation. Your cat’s reaction was most likely caused by the type of sedative that was used, it’s less likely that it was caused by poor injection technique. My heart goes out to you – it’s an awful memory to be left with. I hope in time, the memory will fade a bit and you will be able to remember the 15 years of love and not her final moments.

Eric

October 10, 2019 at 6:40 am (8 months ago)

Just put my baby down today. Clay and I shared fifteen years together and she was a magical cat.

I’ve said goodbye to pets before, including her sister who I lost a few years back, but this one hit me so much harder. Something about Clay just feels irreplaceable, like a chapter has closed that can never be reopened. It’s crazy how long we were together. 15 years! That’s three times longer than I’ve known my wife. I always knew she was special and I really valued that. We moved halfway around the world together and she was right there by my side. I feel like I could get a thousand cats and I’ll never duplicate what I had with Clay.

It’s been a rough week. I’ve wept openly more times than I can count. I’m trying to focus on the blessing I had of 15 great years, but that just highlights my feeling of loss. I take solace in the fact that my first child will be born next month. I think Clay picked this time knowing that she had seen me through the last phase of my life and she’s stepping aside so I can enter a new one. I know she’s at peace, I know she felt my love, I know this is the nature of things. But goddamn does it hurt. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Cindy

November 11, 2019 at 8:09 am (7 months ago)

So very sorry for your loss, Eric – I can relate with losing our 16 year old calico Abby on Nov. 1. There is such a void in the house now, she was my buddy always at my side. It’s little things, like looking for her out of the corner of my eye, our morning routine, etc. It is indeed like a chapter closing.

Blessings to you and your wife on your new family addition, and hopefully you can introduce that little person to a companion like your Clay someday.

Kat

October 7, 2019 at 11:43 pm (8 months ago)

Last night I put my cat of 9 years to sleep. She had the PKD and I didn’t want her to suffer. When I was going to my bedroom I caught a glimpse of her looking back at me on the kitchen floor, a little bit younger and smaller, like she wanted me to go with her and give her treats. I looked back again and realized oh it could be the blanket hanging from the laundry basket. But I swear I saw her. It gave me comfort because I took her with me from the vet’s clinic. I told her to go back to the cage so we can both go home. I know she’s with me at home now. I want to think of it that way. I had three dogs and 1 cat, I lost the first dog on July then the second dog on September to auto-immune disease and now my cat passed away too. In a span of 10 weeks I lost three of my children. I wish they would visit me in my lucid dreams just to hold them again.

Oh Kat, my heart goes out to you. That’s an awful lot of loss in a short time. I don’t doubt that our departed loved ones “visit” with us – some of us are fortunate enough to be able to “see” them during those visits.

Alex

August 29, 2019 at 6:13 pm (9 months ago)

My cat who was everything to me passed away 38 days ago. I missed him soooo much. I wish I could trade my life with his. He was only 8 years old. He was absolutely fine, when I came back home from work I found him on the floor, his back legs were numb. Took him to vet immediately and I was told that he is paralysed from his back legs and he is not doing well at all because of tumour between his kidneys. His heart stopped 8 hours after that. In 10 hours my life was changed. I will never be the same again. He meant everything to me, I’m not sure what to do without him. I rescued him when he was only a few weeks old. I can’t stop thinking about him, I feel like sometimes these waves are too big for me to handle them. My life has no meaning without him. 🙁 (

Pete

August 31, 2019 at 2:06 am (9 months ago)

My lovely friend & companion Kitty died early this morning in my arms. She had been sick lately so it’s good to know she’s not in any more pain but it just hurts so much. I hope everyone’s days, as well as mine gets that much easier x

CAThy Chess

September 2, 2019 at 12:47 am (9 months ago)

Alex,
As a cat lover, I went thru all the scenarios in my head when I lost 2 of my babies (my 17 yr/old & 5 yr/old) before & after losing my Dad. Losing those 3 guys was really overwhelming. But as a nurse, I’m concerned about you. Please reach out to someone who cares for you & understands how much your kitty meant to you. Please.

Alex

September 2, 2019 at 5:12 pm (9 months ago)

Hi CAThy
My friends and everyone else trying to change the subject to make sure I don’t talk about him much so I don’t get upset. they also want me to forget about him but I really can’t. I can’t even talk to my girlfriend about him, we are both devastated with this loss, if I talk to her, I remind her of our cat and she also gets so upset and cries.
I really missed my cat so much, can’t stop thinking about him, every second was a great joy. I keep thinking about him and the day he was home alone. I wish I could do something to avoid this, I wish there was at least a symptom so I could take him to vet sooner. This might be very silly but I Keep thinking what really happens after life! This can’t be it, I wish I knew whether I could see him again! What is he doing now!
What is the purpose of our life and theirs. I know no one knows the answer to these questions.
I just need to keep his memories and carry on with my life! It is going to be very hard!

Julia

September 8, 2019 at 10:00 pm (9 months ago)

Hey Alex, I just lost my cat unexpectedly a week ago tonight and I’ve been feeling and thinking about a lot of what you’re talking about here. Just wanted to let you know, you’re not alone. This is excruciatingly difficult to get through. Plus, I continuously replay her final days, thinking about what could’ve been different to keep my sweetheart alive.

I think it’s especially tough with rescues because we have such a sense of being their caretaker, of wanting them to be safe. I found my cat outside, feral, pregnant, and FIV+. It was months before she’d let me come near her, it was really a labor of love. I realize I’ve spent every day over the past 10 years deeply concerned with her wellbeing and to suddenly have to turn that off, accept she’s gone…it’s just so damn hard.

Lisa

Devastated

June 22, 2019 at 7:36 pm (12 months ago)

Earlier today, my baby boy departed this world. I chose euthanasia so my terminally ill kitty would not have to suffer a long painful death but I will forever be haunted by that decision. Was it the right thing to do? What if he had gotten better, even if only for a little while? He was the light of my world. He made my smile and laugh. He comforted me when I was sad. He was more than a pet he was a companion. I cannot fathom not even seeing his beautiful face again, or see him lounging in his favorite chairs, or have his cold nose wake me up in the morning when it’s time to eat. He was one of a kind. I don’t think I will ever be the same. I will also be haunted by the fact that I missed the early warning signs of his illness and may have been able to prolong his life had I acted sooner. I am living in a fog of grief and regret and don’t even know if I have the strength to make it through this.

Devastated

Robert

July 13, 2019 at 1:52 pm (11 months ago)

The fact that youre devastated shows how much you loved baby. If you ask yourself all the “what ifs” you will drive yourself crazy. Im strugling not to ask myself all the hard questions, i put my cat down today. It was hard, but it was the right thing to do, not only the right thing but i feel it was my responsibility as Pillows daddy to make sure she didnt suffer. My sister works at a vets office, and sometimes i tell her things ive read about my cats illness that she didnt know, so dont beat yourself up about not spotting early signs of an illness. Pillow had polysystic kidney diseas, which can change the color of her fur, which is also possible with liver problems. I read somewhere that people often wait longer than they should to have let their loved one go. Im sure you made the right decision. Be strong, and dont hesitate to reach out to friends or forums to help you get through this tough time.

Danielle

August 30, 2019 at 3:32 am (9 months ago)

I recently went through a similar situation. My otherwise perfectly healthy 7 year old cat died within 24 hours of showing symptoms of having a blocked urethra. I noticed him not acting right and vomiting Sunday, but waited until Monday morning as soon as his vet was open to get him help. If I would have known how serious his illness was or the symptoms to watch out for, I would have rushed him to the emergency vet within the first hour! He was the light of my life, more than a pet, but a true family member. I am deeply saddened by his sudden passing and too will never be the same.

John

September 16, 2019 at 4:30 am (9 months ago)

Danielle,

I am going through this exact same situation. We had to say goodbye to our 6 year old after a blocked urethra. They cleared the issue and a few weeks later he was sick and lethargic. After multiple trips to the vet and the pet ER we were left with an Impossible decision. We had to choose to let go due to multiple issues. I lost my best friend tonight. I wish you all moving be an easy transition without yours.

Sharon Wenn

August 30, 2019 at 9:59 am (9 months ago)

I understand your grief and guilt. The same happened with my beautiful Casper who at 7 years old was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. Why didn’t I see it sooner, if I had done could something had been done to cure him and he would still be here. My heart is breaking and the grief wells up like waves. I had to make the decision to euthanise him straightaway as the vet said he was in pain. Miss him so much.

Sinead

June 22, 2019 at 3:25 am (12 months ago)

I lost my beautiful Ellie 2 days ago. She had been ill for a month but was showing signs that she was getting better. Then she started going down hill again. She lost a lot of weight and she was being sick. Took her to the vets to find out she’s got a huge mass in her stomach and she was showing signs of jaundice. There was nothing that could be done. She went to sleep with mummy and daddy by her side.
She was only 8yrs old, we had her from 8wks old. We rescued her from a garden, she was a dirty, skinny little kitten with fleas.

I’m in so much pain, I feel like I’ve lost a part of me. She would always be in the kitchen in the mornings when I’d come down with my baby. I’ve still got her food and water bowl in her usual place in the kitchen. Can’t bring myself to move it.
The feeling of guilt is so strong. What if I had taken her to the vets sooner, could we of saved her?
I just want her home and for all of this to be a nightmare and I’ll wake up.

Kenzie

September 16, 2019 at 8:11 pm (9 months ago)

Finding this page makes me feel a little less alone. My sweet orange & white tabby, Ali, was hit & killed only a few days ago & it’s so hard to even say her name without crying. She was almost four & tomorrow I would have had her for 3 1/2 years. I miss her so deeply much & the only way to get through everyday is telling myself she’s okay now & i’ll see her again one day. Even though she’s gone, it’s so hard to imagine life without her. I’m so sorry for everyone’s losses.

Elaine Harrington

June 24, 2019 at 11:53 am (12 months ago)

Sometimes it is just out of our control. Your baby had the best eight years of her life. She would not have made it without you. We took in a cat years ago knowing that we were hospice. The little cat lived for a year in spite of all we did to save her. The vet said that we gave her the best final year of her life. It still hurts. Its hard to accept that some things are just out of our control. You gave her a wonderful life and you let her pass to the Rainbow Bridge. There isn’t any more to do except honor her memory and maybe in time give another kitten a chance at a wonderful life with you. God Bless.

natS

June 21, 2019 at 8:44 pm (12 months ago)

My kitty was only 6 months old. Kali got shot by the neighbor. HIs mom and his only brother are still with me. After he got shot he came to me looking for help. It was very traumatizing and devastating. I still cannot write about the journey between the shooting incident and the time of his passing because it’s heartbreaking.
I saw him grow in his mom’s[ belly and I saw him grow next to his brother. They were inseparable. Seeing the mom and his brother look for him constantly breaks my heart to pieces. She keeps calling him. I myself cannot function. He loved cuddles and affection and looked me straight in my eyes. My boyfriend and I are really proud of our cat family, and this happened when my boyfriend was away. Now my boyfriend is going to return and Kali, our purr love, is not going to be here. For now I do not know how to cope with this loss. Last time I felt this way when my grandma died. It’s hard for me to believe i will never feel his soft fur or look into his eyes. I miss his little meows 🙁

Anna

July 22, 2019 at 11:27 am (11 months ago)

I can most definitely relate because my 6 month old kitty, Geralt, somehow got outside and I believe our ignorant neighbor caught him and tossed him over the fence, snapping his neck. Just 5 days ago we took him to the vet because he got stung by a bee. His face was swollen so he needed medication, as far as I know he was fine before we found him dead today this morning. I’m so grief stricken because I loved him. I helped nurse him because he was the runt. Now I’ll never get to see or hear his meows again. He used to love sitting in my lap when I’d play my video game or watch movies or YouTube. He was my therapy. I had to cope with the loss of my grandmother as well, which made this even harder. It’s like losing a part of you.

Kyle

June 19, 2019 at 6:21 am (12 months ago)

I lost my 21 year old tuxedo fur baby Gemma on the 18th of June 2019

She was most loving affectionate cat I have ever met, her purrr would warm my heart ❤️
Gemma had become very week in her last weeks losing a lot of weight & eventually lost all balance & just could not stand under her own weight. Gemmas breathing was getting too much for her to handle and her quality of life was diminishing, seeing my baby like this was honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. I just wish there was something else I could have done for her 20 years we were a team & I just can’t come to terms with you being out of my life I will see you over the coloured rainbow one day gem

Amy pearson

August 22, 2019 at 11:23 am (10 months ago)

HI Kyle, bless you. It’s so very hard, my beautiful Snickers was put to sleep a couple of weeks before yours. 🙁 weight loss, lack of appetite, fatigue, no energy she must have lost so much weight within the last week, I new what I had to do, she’d been to the vets numerous times and we knew she has tumours in her colon so it was the kindest thing for my baby girl. she was 20 and a half and I’d had her since 2008! I miss her something terrible, her smell, her face – everything! I feel for you and I hope you can now sort of think of the lovely memories of her? photos help, thinking and knowing how much she knew you loved her and she loved you. Hope you start to heal soon. Amy X

Abby Frank

May 28, 2019 at 5:20 pm (1 year ago)

I’m sorry for your loss. It so hard when you lose a beloved friend – no matter how long they are there for us. I find comfort in my memories and looking at photos. That helps in very sad moments. I also found comfort with some online chat groups where others who experienced similar losses can help provide comfort. I wish you well.

Linda

May 27, 2019 at 7:51 pm (1 year ago)

Since 2012 I’ve lost my dog lady, my husband John, my friend Mike, my oldest cat Willy, then Pepper & Pie same day , Fred who was there through it all and kept me alive (tuxedo cat), my Dad in oct 16, my sugar baby Siamese, got a new cat from neighbor and she suddenly died Munchkin on Feb 13 this yr., and a week ago my uncle. I can’t handle any more loss. I’ve got 4 cats left and I’m a zombie. I barely am able to care for them I’m so depressed with grief. I can’t afford to get help, but I’m scared for them if I’m not here. I miss all my babies and have all their ashes in little urns. As long as I have a cat living I’ll live. Can’t say what would happen if I didnt.

Oh Linda, what an awful lot of loss! I’m glad you have your four cats to help you through this, but I’d urge you to get some counseling as well if you’re not already doing so. My heart goes out to you.

Abby Frank

May 28, 2019 at 9:27 am (1 year ago)

I’m writing though I’m in the midst of my own struggle. It started when my mother died. My cat, Nellie, died a week later. I have never been the same. Last year, my 18 1/2 year old boy, Sammy, passed away.. I couldn’t get out of bed. I adopted two cats several months later so I’d have a reason to be. I didn’t know that one of them was 2 months away from death. I cry all the time but know that my love for my Dawn will help me along. Sammy enriched my life and I know I gave him the best life. He was so loved. That’s all one can hope for. I have his ashes in the bedroom, but it’s the memories that comfort me most. I hope YOU find comfort in knowing that you enriched your pets’ lives as much as they enriched yours. https://www.rainbowsbridge.com provided unlimited comfort for dealing with the loss of the pets I lost. Check it out. You might also want to visit https://www.healthfulchat.org/bereavement-chat-room.html . It might help you find comfort by talking with others who experienced similar losses of loved ones. The site offers other resources, too. I’m sending a prayer your way. I wish you well.

Jessica

May 25, 2019 at 1:26 pm (1 year ago)

I lost my cat three days ago. It happend so quicky, it was something like a heart attack and within 3 minutes, before we realized what was happening, he was already dead. We couldn’t do anything about it. Seeing his dead body, was an awful shock for me. Tapsy was only 8 years old.

I still can’t believe he’s gone, it doesn’t feel real. Everytime I look at places he used to be, I expect to see his adorable face, hear his voice.
I still feel his soft fur on my fingers.
It even feels surreal to type these words, because they mean that he’s truly gone…

I feel lost and empty, a part of me is missing, because it has always been me and him. Our connection was very special.

I have never experienced a loss of a cat like that, but reading your article gives me hope. I don’t know how long it will take for me, but I hope I can turn my grief into beautiful memories someday.

Elaine Harrington

May 26, 2019 at 8:57 am (1 year ago)

I’m so sorry for your loss. If its any comfort, it was quick and hopefully your cat did not suffer. I’ve had cats linger for long periods of time and watching them deteriorate is horrible as well. Pick out your favorite picture, enlarge it frame it. I hope this helps. God Bless, Elaine

Bela

August 25, 2019 at 6:46 am (10 months ago)

Very similar story… my cat died very suddenly 5 days ago at the age of 7, within a minute. I still cannot do anything, I’m just laying in bed, crying and thinking about her, watching videos and photos of her. It’s too hard to imaging doing things knowing that she’s not near as always…

Jessica

August 26, 2019 at 7:12 am (10 months ago)

I’m so sorry for your loss, I know exactly how you feel. A sudden death is a very painful experience. Even after 3 months, it still hurts and on some days I can’t handle it and I burst into tears… but what really helped me was reading a book, which dealt with pet loss and making a painting of him. Maybe something similar can also help you. I wish you strengh, to overcome this difficult time. My heart goes out to you.

Barbara A Odle

November 9, 2019 at 8:15 am (7 months ago)

I too lost my best friend of 14 years ago from an apparent heart event that caused a stroke and seizures. It was sudden, no signs to warn me of a problem and I now feel lost. Whiskers was a rescued from the wild kitten who had not gone ferel yet. He was loving and affectionate. A little female kitten was also rescued and she now has some medical problems which led us to believe she might precede him but not to be. I am so very heartbroken and trying very hard to deal with and cope but so far, little success. I, too, don’t know how long this will take and when this pain will subside.

AZ Desertgirl

May 4, 2019 at 9:00 pm (1 year ago)

Thank you for this informative article. I had three chronic kidney disease cats. All senior females. I lost one in April 2018, and two in April 2019, two weeks apart. I had all three over 12 years. Lucy, my favorite, just passed at the end of April. I had been able to enrich and extend her life with sub q’s, every other day. I convinced her to eat by changing up her food every day or two. Most CKD cats starve as their main cause of death. So I worked hard to keep her eating. We had the greatest bond; she tolerated my treating her which was no fun. The last couple of weeks, I purchased a screened in pet stroller and we went for long neighborhood walks. She was absolutely enthralled! She had so much joy being outside in her pet stroller! It balanced out the fact that she was end stage Renal disease. My last day with her was very unexpected. Her hips were so shallow, and she weighed 5 1/2 lbs. She slept more and came upstairs less, due to her muscle wasting. If I brought her upstairs, she’d go back down and sleep in her regular bed.
Depression, anxiety, and complex PTSD were lifted because of this beautiful white dilute calico that I had adopted on Craigslist.
It takes a special person to bond and understand a cat. I’ve greatly loved all of my cats; they have given me so much joy and compassionship. I think, especially, of Lucy every single day. ****Grief is love that has no where to go. **** I don’t know who wrote that, but it is very true. Thank you for listening and for sharing.

Tess

April 11, 2019 at 4:58 am (1 year ago)

Thank you for this article, it’s nice to know others out there feel the same way. We lost our 8 month old kitten last month to FIP (or so we believe) we only had her for 5 months and my heart is broken. We are waiting to get another cat but I just wish I would have known about this horrific disease before the day my cat was lost. My boyfriend and I moved in together last year and decided to get a cat since we work diffrent work scheduals and don’t get to see each other (awake) everyday. Reese was there when the other wasent and really helped us transition into our new place and cure the loneliness. It has been 20 days since she went over the rainbow bridge. Time heals all wounds but I swear it has slowed since the loss of my precious little baby angel. So sorry for everyone else’s losses.

Frank

February 15, 2019 at 9:36 am (1 year ago)

I lost my 12 year old cat Sammy on Feb 11th 2019. He passed unexpectedly while at the vet. Oct 2017 he was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease..he prospered for the next year with prescription food and sub q fluids at home. But then in Oct 2018 he was also diagnosed with chylothorax (fluid buildup in the chest that compresses the lungs) At that point he needed to go see the vet routinely to get the fluid drained. On Feb 11th I took him in to get the fluid drained and he passed away right after the vet was finished… it was very unexpected. The only good news is Sammy was already sedated and most likely felt no pain when he passed. The worst part is our house now, it feels so empty!! : ( I might actually visit some shelters next week…

Trudie Holland

March 20, 2019 at 5:45 pm (1 year ago)

So sorry for your loss. I am 3 days without my Joey – 16 and had to let him go. Thinking of you. If you can do the shelters that would be wonderful. I know I would break down. I still have another 16 year old step brother to Joey and could not introduce a new cat.

Abby

March 21, 2019 at 7:39 am (1 year ago)

So sorry for your loss. I lost my 18 1/2 year old tabby boy, Sammy, in Oct. 2018. (I met him when he was 4 hours old and adopted him when he was 2 months old). After he passed it was unbearable. I let two months go by and opened my heart for 2 cats. Please check into the true health history of the cat(s) you want to adopt. I chose two bonded cats. The shelter’s info told to me by the founder (about the cats) was wrong from the very start. One of the two cat’s names were wrong (learned about that from the website photo), the ages were off (they were 3 years and 10 years old, not 6 and 8 years old), McCloud was with us for 2 months and we had to put him to sleep (he was in end-stage renal failure and had FIV) and from the start he was unapproachable….hiding under the bed or sofa, even with his friend right by his side). Dawn had ear mites and dental disease. Her last vet check was more than 7 months before I came in to adopt her. The claim on the website was that all cats are vet checked and chipped. No way was McCloud chipped, he was too sick. And yes, Dawn was bet checked….7 months before the adoption.

FAB article!!! I recently had to put Purrince Siddhartha Henry to sleep…he had Panleukopenia & the end was anything but pleasant for both of us. Your article has helped me see I’m doing all right & working thru the grief.
It is coming up to tha anniversary of Nylablue Sweet Feet’s leaving (Nov. 22nd) & I am always gentle on this day towards myself.
Now to learn to be gentle about Siddhartha Henry…..
Thank you again, Sherri-Ellen aka LadyMum from THE Purrfect Pad

Kristin

November 9, 2018 at 5:33 pm (2 years ago)

I pray this to be true every day. I am a cat rescuer and have unfortunately had so many losses over the years, as to be expected with the title. Every time they go, I tell them to meet me at the bridge. I only hope the bridge really exists

Vernon

November 8, 2018 at 10:26 am (2 years ago)

I lost Trixie on September 19, 2018. She was only 6 years old. I was on my vacation at the time. I let some friends care for her while I was gone. I received a call 5 days later that she had passed away. After I got back, I went collect her things. I found their trailer disgusting and full of roaches. If I would’ve seen the inside their trailer first, I never would’ve taken her there in the first place. Almost 2 months later, I still feel negligent about causing her death.

Sarah

JohnD

November 8, 2018 at 9:23 am (2 years ago)

I lost a beautiful little boy on January 22, 2016 and still break down with grief a few times a week. I still have 3 more cats, but little Myrko was a truly special little soul. I hope we’ll see each other again some day.

Andrea

November 7, 2018 at 10:02 pm (2 years ago)

I’m also in the complicated grief category but I’m getting help. I will never get over losing my precious Mewdy Blue. It also seems that whenever I lose someone they go in three’s. That makes it extra hard to handle.

Steven Howard

Bbetty

November 7, 2018 at 11:06 am (2 years ago)

Thank you so much for this article. I recently lost my beautiful little Tortie, Rusty. The initial grief was overwhelming and I still can’t think about her absence without crying, even though it has been over two months since I lost her. Cats are special companions and their absence in our lives leaves a hole in our hearts that nothing else can ever fill. I look forward to seeing her waiting on the rainbow bridge so we can spend eternity together.

Elaine Harrington

November 7, 2018 at 8:59 am (2 years ago)

I put Blue down because I knew it was the right thing to do, but I took him to our Humane Society and did not get to go in or say goodbye like I thought I would so there is no closure. H passed August 7th. We had a funeral, we buried his ashes, I said a prayer and sang, but last night I was sobbing as I was doing the dishes. I’m crying as I write this. We have 4 other cats, but he was a very special boy.

Sarah

Chelsea

November 7, 2018 at 8:54 am (2 years ago)

I lost my boy Murphy back in June. Murphy was a cat who was different than most. He never left my side, never got upset, and was always up for a good cuddle. He was with me during my hard parts of my life. He was also the silliest cat I’ve ever seen (always got himself in the weirdest situations). He was diagnosed with mouth cancer in April, and at that point it was too late. Since the cancer was under his tongue, he eventually stopped grooming, drinking, and had a very hard time eating. There was nothing I could do except give him medication and all the love in the world. I’d use wipes to help groom him and give him meds multiple times a day. I’d have to keep switching to different food with different texture and make mountains to help him bite the food instead of lick his food. It would take him up to 45 minutes to eat a meal. He got so scared and stressed out, I could see it in his eyes and his behavior. I made the decision to have him put him down where he was most comfortable (at home on the couch on my lap). It was very peaceful but one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Once he had passed, I brought my other cat Lily out to say her goodbye to help her process. I had him cremated and he is now in my bedroom on the shelf. I placed photos of him in picture frames throughout the house. The photos of him were when he was acting the most goofy or where he looked his best (bow ties!). My best friend had a picture of him drawn by an artist and we framed that as well. I rescued a cat a month or so after his passing. The new cat wasn’t meant to replace, but meant to be another animal I could save. I dedicated so much time to Murphy, and I wanted to find another companion who was scared and struggling and needed a home that I could rescue. Adopting Winston has been wonderful, and makes me feel that if I couldn’t help Murphy, I could at least help another animal. I got married this past weekend. I used to sing a song to Murphy to calm him down when he was scared. I asked the DJ to play that song for me. It helped as I will always remember dedicating a piece of my wedding to him. It’s the little things that have helped me grieve with losing Murphy. Consulting with a vet was beneficial for me. It helped me understand when it was the right time. It has gotten easier overtime. I think it’s important to remember the funny things he did and to channel my grieving into positive ways.

The last two cats that I have lost have been the toughest ever. I remember when I lost Nani and the vet clinic called to tell me her ashes were ready to be picked up. I was doing my grocery shopping at Walmart when I got the call. I just stopped and tears filled my eyes. I had to do all I could to get through my task and back in my car. I didn’t want to cry in front of people, but I sure broke down as soon as I was in my car.

Sarah

Laura

November 7, 2018 at 8:27 am (2 years ago)

Thank you for this blog post. I lost my cat Bebe two days ago and I’m still dealing with the grief. Since I’m a cat rescuer I have experienced loss before but each time it hurts profoundly. That’s part of the process and I’m grateful it is this way. Blessings!

Sarah

Raine

November 7, 2018 at 4:19 am (2 years ago)

I fall in the complicated grief category. I’m still in denial over loosing my big man. I have ptsd among other things and he was a bottle baby that came into my life at my darkest time. I have other kitties and I love them but it’s nothing like the bond I had with him. I “what if” constantly thinking about missing symptoms and my mom picked up his ashes and is holding them until I am up to bringing him home. 8 It’s more painful than the loss of any human. My heart breaks for everyone else who is going through this pain. I wish I had words of comfort. I will definitely be getting this book as this post hit home on all levels.

Abby

November 7, 2018 at 4:24 am (2 years ago)

Raine, I know how hard it is to lose your precious one. I recently lost my boy and while my heart is breaking, I am thankful he didn’t suffer. He was such a huge presence in this house and now it’s so empty. We have album and photos of all our precious ones around and it’s a comfort.

Lynn

November 10, 2018 at 1:47 am (2 years ago)

I lost my very special boy, Little Man, a beautiful orange tabby, just 6 years old, just one month ago. He was the only bright spot in my life since I lost my husband of 40 years 10 months ago to Alzheimer’s. Little Man was special from the day I found him on the side of a barron road, he weighed just 1.2 lbs. I cannot express the amount of comfort he gave me in those dark days after my husband died. Little Man was a totally inside kitty, never got table food, yet he suddenly had an acute pancreias attack and was gone in mere hours. I cannot make sense of it and at times can hardly believe he is really gone, except for the emptiness in this house and in my heart. I will never be as close to another kitty as I was to him. I see him, I hear him, only to realize he is truly gone. I pray dear Lord the Rainbow Bridge truly exist, cannot bear the thought of never holding my sweet Little Man ever again

Sarah

November 7, 2018 at 2:32 pm (2 years ago)

I’m so sorry, Raine. There’s such a deep bond with bottle babies, and also with the ones that help us through the hardest times. On top of PTSD, that’s a lot to handle. It sounds like a wise move to have your mom hold onto his ashes for now. Be gentle with yourself.

Abby Frank

November 7, 2018 at 4:12 am (2 years ago)

I met my boy when he was 4 hours old, brought him home when he was 2 months old, and I laid next to him when he went to heaven a few months short of his 19th birthday. When I became sick and became home-bound, Sammy was my shadow and my biggest cheerleader. It’s been a little more than 2 weeks and I miss him so much. I’m also so grateful he was my friend for so long.

Ange

November 7, 2018 at 4:12 am (2 years ago)

I lost my beloved cat Blade earlier this year, I’ve never cried fully and never gotten over him, I know he’s with me in spirit and that he’s no longer in pain. I kept his ashes and they’re next to his older sisfur who passed away a few years ago, I haven’t gotten over her either. This was a wonderfully written article, thank you for the information.

Sarah

Liz

November 7, 2018 at 1:49 am (2 years ago)

I lost one of my torties almost three years ago and I still grieve for her every day miss her terribly – she was the love of my life. I buried her little body outside my bedroom window so at I know that I brought her back home where she loved to be. Losing her has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me.

Sarah

November 7, 2018 at 2:39 pm (2 years ago)

That sounds so painful, Liz (in my experience, losing a forever cat is even more painful). You buried her in a meaningful place, which is lovely, but of course you still miss her. I’m not sure we ever stop missing them (to one degree or another), because we never stop loving them.

Fifi

September 20, 2019 at 5:41 pm (9 months ago)

I have found this page very helpful and enlightening thank you. I lost my little black and white fur-baby, Charlie, six months ago. She was 17(almost 18) and had a lovely life(totally spoilt), such a cheeky little character and I miss her like crazy. It seems so final now!!…her energy isn’t in the house but I can still feel it(I know that might sound quite surreal). I have two other cats that I got from a rescue centre six weeks after my Charlie died. Noushka and Koko are adorable and Koko reminds me of Charlie.Sometimes.. this can make me cry but also bring me joy. I know what everyone is going through on here..it is VERY tough, the grief can be terrible and sometimes it feels overwhelming, as if it will never subside, but then you cry and it eases a bit, because crying is healing, as we know. I think it can be very difficult when you talk about your beloved cat and some people have no comprehension of how it feels(even think you are a bit odd) but I see this as their loss..because loving a cat(or any animal) with all your heart is a great joy. Yes, we have to weather the intense pain that comes with that loss, but we were all lucky enough, honoured really, to have been mummy/daddy to these totally amazing creatures!!